Steam-engine.



Patented Aug. 6, |90I. H. F. COLVIN.

STEAM ENGINE.

(Application filed Dec. 24, 1900.\

(No Modal.)

l lil I e s ww A r n uonms Pmns co. Nomura Patented Aug. 6, IQIJI.y

H. vF. cuLvm. STEAM ENGINE.

(Application filed DBG. 24, 1900.)

ZSheetS-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

mr uokms crus co.4 Pnoaurm.. WASHINGTON, n c.

UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. CLVIN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming' part of Letters Patent No. 679,949, dated August6, 1901. Application filed December 24,1900. Serial No. 40,992. (N0model-3 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. CoLvIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSteam-Engines, of which'the following is a specification.

The objects of myinvention are to construct a multiple-cylinder enginein a manner to afford easy access to the pistons and their1packing-rings; to provide for the easy introduction and removal of thepistons; to reduce the number of stuffing-boxes heretofore necessary fortandem engines and reduce them to nearly the minimum, as heretofore onlynecessaryon simple engines; to form a direct exhaust-passage from thehigh-pressure to the low-pressure steam-chests; to provide a simpleby-pass valve of sufficient capacity to enable a free and unobstructedflow of highpressure steam to low-pressure cylinders by the simplemovement of a lever--a by-pass valve of suicient capacity to relieve thecylinder from producing a vacuum, as is liable by a locomotive-enginewhen running without using steam, and thereby obviate the necessity ofusing vacuum-valves and other features pointed out in the specification.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, shown as atandem multiple-cylinder locomotive, wherein many of the features areequally as effective and as well adapted to stationary and other enginesand also to simple or single expansion englues, and wherein-'- Figure 1is a central vertical section as to most parts of the engine. Fig.A 2 isanelevation of such parts as are necessary to show the connection of theby-pass valve and slidevalve balance-plate operative mechanism. Fig. 3is a transverse section on line X X, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transversesection on line Y Y, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line Z Z,Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a 4modification used in connection with low-pressurecylinder' 2.

Similar figures of reference indicate similar parts throughout thevarious views.

The high-pressure cylinder 1 is placed in line with the low-pressurecylinder 2, the cylinder 1 having a front head 3 and a back head 4 andthe cylinder 2 having a front ltight joint by bolts 38.

head 5 and a back head 6. Cylinder 1 has a piston comprising a centraldisk 7, secured to an outer annular ring 8 by bolts 9 and carryingpacking-rings l0 11, the disk 7 having a central hub 12, whereinis-secured pistonrod 13 in any desired or suitable way. Cylinder 2 has apiston composed of a central disk 13, of less diameter than the bore ofcylinder 1, secured to an annular ring 14, cored at 15 to lighten it,and secured to disk 13 by bolts 16 and carries packing-rings 17,18. The

disk 13 has a central hub, part 19 projecting at the back side and part20 at the front side. Piston-rod 13 from cylinder 1 is secured to hub 20by key21, and piston-rod 22 is secured to hub 19 and thereafter passesthrough the back head Gand is secured to the cross-head. (Not shown.)Thus it will be seen the pistons must act in unison. The manner ofsecuring the rods 13 22 to the low-pressure piston may be of any of theapproved forms heretofore or now in use. The front head 5 of cylinder 2has a central opening 23 for the free -passing of piston-rod 13, andupon its front side a seat 21 is formed,whereon is secured liange 25 ofconnecting-sleeve 26 by bolts 27. The sleeve 26 is open at its back end28 and, if desired, maybe provided with any suitable packing 29 t0surround piston-rod 13, which passes through it. The connectingsleeve 26is slightly enlarged at its front end 30, Where it enters centralopening 3l in back head 4 of cylinder 1. It also has an internal flange32 at this'end, which passes inward to just clear piston-rod 13, andWithin its central space 33 and abutting the inner wall of flange 32 itmay, if desired, be provided with a bushing 34 to form a bearing orsupport for piston-rod 13. In

order to allow for the expansion of the sleeve4 26 through opening 30and at the same time prevent any leakage of steam around it, itshigh-pressure end is provided with a soft metallic ring 35, (preferablycopper wire,) and against it is forced the beveled edge 36 of annularring 37, and all secured in place for a The object of the sleeve 26 andthe mechanism just described is to cover the piston-rod, connect thecylinders, and gain room to inspect the piston of cylinder 2 between thetwo cylinders, and therefore the stufling-boxes usually heretoforeemployed on heads 4 5 are superseded IOO by my mechanism, as when heads3 5 are unbolted from their cylindersthe high and low pressure pistonscan be moved forward until heads 4 and 5 abut, as the connecting-sleeve26 will telescope into cylinder 1, and thevlowpressure piston can bemoved into space A,

where it will all be visible and accessible for inspection oradjustment, as with the usual longitudinal centers of cylinders therewill be ample room, whereas heretofore the room was cramped and limitedby the separate stuffing-boxes projecting from heads 4 5 into" space A.

Mounted on cylinder 1 is an exhaust-steam chest 39 over ports 40 41, andWithin chest 39 is a slide-valve 42, having live-steam ports 43 44therethrough to the cylinder-ports, they `being wider apart at thebottom than at. the top or angling inwardly toward the top.

An exhaust-port 45 is central between ports 43 44 and opens upward intoa cavity 46, which has openings 47 48 (see Fig. 3) through each sidedirectly into chest 39, the chest having a neck 49, join-ed to a neck 50of low-pressure steamchest 5l, so that the exhaust from cylinder 1 has afree and direct passage through valve 42 directly into chest 39 andthrough necks 49 50 to steam-chest 51 for admission to cylinder 2.

This construction eliminates the usual steam-chest stuffing-boxes,as thevalvestem 52, attached to and moving valve 42 at one end and attached tovalve-yoke 53 of valve 54, passes within necks 49 50. Above valve 42 isa balance-plate 55, having a port 56 through its lowerV face into itsinterior space 57, which is open at its top and communicates withlive-steam passage 58, connected to steam-pipe 59, reaching fromcylinder-saddle 60, communicating with the brauch pipes within thesmokebox and controlled by the engines throttle-valve. Extending outwardfrom the end of steam-pipe 59, where it is attached to steam-chest cover61, is a chamber 62, forminga connection between port 58 and steam-pipe59, and within chamber 62 is a by-pass valve 63, pierced by openings 64to permit free fluid flowing and broadened at the top 65 and bottom 66,and a port 67 permits live steam to pass from chamber 62 intoexhaust-steam chest 39 and around slide-valve 42 when valve 63 is movedto open port 67, as shown in Fig. 1, and with 'the arms 68 69 and rod 70, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, and as when live steam is admittedtoallthecylinders. Steam-chestneck 49 has a flange 7l, and aroundsteam-chest neck 50, which abuts it, is a soft metallic ring 72,(preferably of copper wire,) against which is forced the beveled edge 73of ring 74, held by bolts 75, passing through ange 7l and ring 714, tomake a steam-tightjoint. Lowpressure cylinder 2 has a slide-valve 76made of hollow box form for the convenience of passing yoke 53 over it,and through its bottom wall is exhaust-port 77, affording means ofcommunication between the steam-ports 78 79 and the exhaust-port 80. Thecavity 81 of the valve also communicates with a port 82 through thevalves" upper wall, and the balance-plate 83 also has a port 84, throughwhich exhaust steam enters the cavity 85 of balance-plate 83. In orderto permit valve 76 to lift when the Aengine is running with steam shutoff, and thereby prevent producing a vacuum fin cylinder 2, a yoke 86 isformed on the balance-plate v83 above its top, (see Figs. 1 and 5,) andinserted therein is a cam 87, formed on shaft 88, as seen in Figs. 1 and5, where the cam is in one of its inoperative positions, as when theengine is working with live steam in all cylinders, and by-pass valve 63and cam 87 are in the positions shown in Fig. 1, with their arms 68 69and rod 70 as seen in full lines in Fig. 2`. When itis desired to shutoff live steam from cylinder2 and work the engine compound, the rodwillbe moved forward, forcing arms 68 69 to the positions B, as seen indotted lines in Fig. 2, which movement will cause by-pass valve 63l tomove into a vertical position, as line y y, and cover port 67, when onlythe exhaust steam from cylinder 1 will pass to cylinder 2. The abovemovement will have no effect to change .the relations or movcments ofthe valve 76, balance-plate 83, or its yoke 86 of cylinder 2, as thepart 89 of cam 87 will still be clear of and not lift yoke 86, andbalance-plate 83 will operate as herctofore. When the engine is runningwith the steam shut oft', the rod 70 will be moved back, carrying arms68 69 to position C, moving by-pass valve 63 into a position' at rightangles to that shown in Fig. 1 orlineff, and by means of the openings 64therethrough free by-pass passage will be had from cylinder 1 throughvalve 42, balance-plate 55,port 58, chamber 62 to port 67 and thereafterthrough valve 76 to the exhaust-port 80 of cylinder 2 to the atmosphere,while the relief of the cylinder 1 isat the same time eected, as by themovement of arm 68 to position C the lpart 90 of cam 87 is swung up,bearing under and lifting yoke 86 and carrying the balance-plate 83clear of valve 76, relieving cylinder 2. Arm 69 (see Fig. 5) operatesshaft 91, coned at 92 and enlarged at 88. Arm 68 (see Fig. 4) operatesshaft 94, having a cone 95 and a tongued projection 96, fitting in cone95 of by-pass valve 63.

The by-pass valve 63,with its connected and operative mechanism, byitself, and distinct from cam 87 and its mechanism, is equally effectivefor the relief of simple or single expansion-cylinders, asfor multipleexpansioncylinders, and valve 76, its balance-plate 83, with its yoke86, cam 87, and their connected and operative mechanisms are,independent of by-pass valve 63 and its mechanism, equally efective bythemselves, for a by-pass or relief from vacuum creating in'simple orsingle expansion-engines, as in multiple expansion-engines. Therefore Ido not wish to be considered as limiting my claims thereto to anyspecial type of engines.

IOO

IIO

In Fig. 6 I show a modification for use over cylinder 2 whereinsteam-chest cover 97 has a chamber 98, in which is placed a by-passValve 99, having'openings 100 therethrough, similar to openings 64: inFig. 4, and a passage 101, leading from the steam-chest 51' to chamber98, and a port 102, leading from chamber 9S to cavity 85 ofbalance-plate 83 and therethrough to valve 76' and its cylinder. Whenthe engine is Working under steam, the by-pass valve 99 will be closed,as seen in Fig. 6, and when the engine is running with the steam shutoff the by-pass 99 will be moved to line 7c K, giving free passage fromthe steam-chest 51 to the valve 83' and therethrough to the enginesexhaust and the atmosphere and prevent creating a vacuum in the cylinderand applicable to any locomotive or other steam-engines, simple orcompound.

I claiml. In an engine, cylinders arranged tandem, pistons andpiston-rods within the cylinders, exhaust-steam chests mounted on thecylinders, and a slide-valve having livesteam ports therethrough, abalance-plate above the valve, an exhaust -port in the valve open to theexhaust-port of the cylinder, and having lneans of communication fromthe cylinder-ports directly through the valve to the interior of theexhaust-steam chest, and means to operate the valve.

2. In an engine, cylinders arranged tandem, pistons and'piston-rodswithin the cylinders, steam chests on the cylinders, a steam valvehaving vertical steam ports therethrough, an exhaust-port at the bottomand at each side, communicating with a central cavity and therethroughtothe interior of the steam-chest, a balance-plate mounted above thevalve, having a central port pnt in alternate communication with thevalves steam-ports, and also in constant communication with an interioropen space in the balance-plate, a cover over the balance-plate, achamber in the cover in communication with the engines steam-pipe, and aport leading from the chamber to the balance-plates open space.

3. In an engine, high and low pressure cylinders, pistons and their rodswithin the cylinders, steam-chests on the cylinders, valves in thesteam-chests, covers on the steamchests and in the high-pressure cover achamber connected to the engines steam-pipe and having a portcommunicating with the highpressure valve and therethrough to thecylinders steam-ports, aby-pass valve in the chamber, a port from thechamber communicating with the interior of the steam chest, and means tooperate the by-pass valve to open or close the port aforsesaid .to admitor shut off live steam leading to the interior of the exhaust-steamchest, and exterior to the exhaust-steam-chests valve.

4. In an engine, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a steam-chestmounted on the cylinder, a steam-valve in the steam-chest, abalance-plate on the steam-valve, a cover on the steam-chest and overthe balance-plate,means inclosed therein and upon the relief-plate bywhich to lift the relief-plate from the valve and means exterior to thecover for the operation of the lifting means.

5. In an engine, multiple cylinders, pistons and rods within thecylinders, steam-chests mounted upon the cylinders, valves within thesteam-chests, relief-plates on the valves, a by-pass valve for one ofthe cylinders, a relief-plate-lifting means for the valve of the othercylinder, means to connect the by-pass valve and the lifting means forcooperative action, and means for their coacting movement. y

6. In a steam-engine, cylinders therefor, a piston for each cylinder, asteam-chest for each cylinder', a steam ad mission and exhaust valve foreach cylinder, a balance-plate for each valve, a by-pass valve for eachsteamchest, a chamber wherein the by-pass valve is located, asteam-passage from the steamchestto the by-pass chamber, a steam-passagefrom the by-pass chamber to the balanceplate'and therethrough to theengines valve and cylinder, and means to operate the bypass valve toclose or open the passage from its chamber to the balance-plate.

7. In an engine,'mult iple cylinders arranged tandem and spacedlongitudinally apart, pistons within the cylinders and connected by acommon piston-rod, heads for the cylinders, a connecting-sleevesurrounding the pistonrod, removably secured to one cylinder-head andfreely passing into and telescoping through the adjacent cylinder-head,and into the high-'pressure cylinder when the low-pressure piston is tobe removed into the space between the cylinders, for inspection or -theadjustment of its parts.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence ot' two witnesses.

HENRY F. COLVIN.

Witnesses: y

COLUMBUS W. GABELL, Jr., R. C. WRIGHT.

IOC

